Mở Bài
Chủ đề về không gian xanh trong quy hoạch đô thị (Green Spaces In Urban Planning Roles) là một trong những chủ đề phổ biến và quan trọng trong IELTS Reading. Với xu hướng đô thị hóa nhanh chóng trên toàn cầu, vai trò của công viên, vườn cây và các khu vực xanh trong thành phố ngày càng được quan tâm, khiến chủ đề này xuất hiện thường xuyên trong các đề thi IELTS thực tế từ năm 2018 đến nay.
Bài viết này cung cấp cho bạn một bộ đề thi IELTS Reading hoàn chỉnh với 3 passages được xây dựng theo đúng chuẩn Cambridge IELTS, bao gồm: Passage 1 ở mức độ Easy phù hợp cho band 5.0-6.5, Passage 2 ở mức Medium cho band 6.0-7.5, và Passage 3 ở mức Hard dành cho band 7.0-9.0. Mỗi passage đi kèm với các dạng câu hỏi đa dạng như Multiple Choice, True/False/Not Given, Matching Headings, và Summary Completion – giống hệt những gì bạn sẽ gặp trong phòng thi thực tế.
Đặc biệt, bài viết không chỉ cung cấp đáp án chính xác mà còn có giải thích chi tiết từng câu hỏi, phân tích cách paraphrase và kỹ thuật làm bài, cùng bảng từ vựng quan trọng giúp bạn nâng cao vốn từ học thuật. Đây là tài liệu lý tưởng cho học viên từ band 5.0 trở lên muốn luyện tập một cách bài bản và hiệu quả.
1. Hướng Dẫn Làm Bài IELTS Reading
Tổng Quan Về IELTS Reading Test
IELTS Reading Test kéo dài 60 phút với 3 passages và tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi. Mỗi câu trả lời đúng được tính 1 điểm, và tổng điểm sẽ được quy đổi thành band score từ 0-9. Độ khó của các passages tăng dần, với Passage 1 thường dễ nhất và Passage 3 khó nhất.
Phân bổ thời gian khuyến nghị:
- Passage 1: 15-17 phút (13 câu hỏi)
- Passage 2: 18-20 phút (13 câu hỏi)
- Passage 3: 23-25 phút (14 câu hỏi)
Lưu ý rằng không có thời gian riêng để chép đáp án, vì vậy bạn cần ghi đáp án trực tiếp vào answer sheet trong 60 phút làm bài.
Các Dạng Câu Hỏi Trong Đề Này
Đề thi mẫu này bao gồm 7 dạng câu hỏi phổ biến nhất trong IELTS Reading:
- Multiple Choice – Câu hỏi trắc nghiệm với 3-4 lựa chọn
- True/False/Not Given – Xác định thông tin đúng/sai/không được nhắc đến
- Matching Information – Nối thông tin với đoạn văn tương ứng
- Matching Headings – Chọn tiêu đề phù hợp cho các đoạn văn
- Summary Completion – Hoàn thiện đoạn tóm tắt
- Matching Features – Nối đặc điểm với danh mục
- Short-answer Questions – Trả lời câu hỏi ngắn
2. IELTS Reading Practice Test
PASSAGE 1 – The Evolution of Urban Green Spaces
Độ khó: Easy (Band 5.0-6.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 15-17 phút
Urban green spaces have become an integral component of modern city planning, transforming from simple decorative features into essential elements that serve multiple functions. The concept of incorporating vegetation and open areas within cities dates back centuries, but the systematic approach to urban greening has evolved significantly over the past two hundred years.
In the early 19th century, European cities experienced rapid industrialization, leading to overcrowded and polluted urban environments. City planners began to recognize the need for parks and gardens as places where residents could escape the harsh conditions of industrial life. London’s iconic Hyde Park and New York’s Central Park, designed in the 1850s, exemplified this new thinking. These spaces were deliberately created to provide recreational opportunities and improve public health by offering fresh air and natural scenery within densely populated areas.
The 20th century brought new perspectives on urban green spaces. Landscape architects and urban ecologists started understanding that these areas provided more than just aesthetic value and recreation. Research revealed that trees and plants in cities could significantly reduce air pollution by absorbing carbon dioxide and other harmful gases. Vegetation also helps moderate temperatures through a process called transpiration, where plants release water vapor, creating a cooling effect that can reduce urban temperatures by up to 5 degrees Celsius during summer months.
Another crucial function that gained recognition was stormwater management. Traditional urban surfaces like concrete and asphalt are impermeable, meaning rainwater cannot soak through them. This leads to increased runoff, which can cause flooding and carry pollutants into rivers and lakes. Green spaces, with their permeable soil and vegetation, can absorb substantial amounts of rainwater, reducing the risk of floods and improving water quality. A single mature tree can intercept approximately 2,000 gallons of rainwater annually.
The psychological benefits of urban green spaces have also been extensively documented. Studies conducted in various cities worldwide have shown that regular exposure to nature reduces stress levels, improves mood, and enhances cognitive function. Hospital patients with views of trees and gardens have been found to recover more quickly than those without such views. Furthermore, accessible green spaces encourage physical activity, helping to combat obesity and related health problems that have become increasingly common in modern urban societies.
Công viên đô thị London Hyde Park với không gian xanh rộng lớn phục vụ người dân
Biodiversity preservation represents another emerging priority for urban green spaces. Cities are increasingly designed to support various plant and animal species, recognizing that urban areas can serve as ecological corridors that connect fragmented natural habitats. Parks and gardens featuring native plants provide food and shelter for birds, insects, and small mammals. Some cities have created wildlife-friendly green roofs on buildings, which not only support biodiversity but also provide insulation and reduce energy costs.
The economic value of urban green spaces has become clearer through recent research. Properties located near parks and green areas typically command higher prices, increasing tax revenues for municipalities. Green spaces also attract tourists and support local businesses. A study in Philadelphia found that a comprehensive greening program added approximately $4 million in property value and generated nearly half a million dollars in annual tax revenue.
However, creating and maintaining urban green spaces presents several challenges. Land scarcity in densely populated cities makes it difficult to allocate space for parks and gardens. The costs of establishing and maintaining these areas can be substantial, requiring ongoing investment in groundskeeping, irrigation systems, and facilities. Additionally, ensuring equitable access to green spaces across different neighborhoods remains a significant concern, as lower-income areas often have fewer and smaller parks compared to wealthier districts.
Despite these challenges, cities worldwide are finding innovative solutions. Vertical gardens on building walls, green roofs, and pocket parks in small unused spaces maximize limited land availability. Some cities have transformed abandoned industrial sites and railway corridors into green spaces, a practice known as adaptive reuse. Singapore has become a global leader in this field, integrating vegetation into virtually every aspect of urban development, earning it the nickname “City in a Garden.”
Community involvement has proven essential for the success of urban green space initiatives. When residents participate in planning, designing, and maintaining local parks and gardens, they develop a sense of ownership and ensure these spaces meet community needs. Volunteer programs for tree planting and garden maintenance have become popular in many cities, fostering social connections while improving the urban environment.
Looking forward, the role of urban green spaces will likely expand further as cities face challenges like climate change and growing populations. Planners are exploring concepts like sponge cities, which use green infrastructure to manage water more effectively, and urban forests, which involve increasing tree coverage to create more resilient urban ecosystems. The integration of technology, such as sensors to monitor plant health and optimize irrigation, promises to make green space management more efficient and sustainable.
Questions 1-13
Questions 1-5: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
1. What was the primary reason for creating parks in 19th-century European cities?
A. To increase property values
B. To provide relief from industrial conditions
C. To preserve biodiversity
D. To manage stormwater
2. According to the passage, vegetation in cities can reduce temperatures by:
A. up to 3 degrees Celsius
B. up to 5 degrees Celsius
C. up to 7 degrees Celsius
D. up to 10 degrees Celsius
3. How much rainwater can a mature tree intercept annually?
A. approximately 1,000 gallons
B. approximately 1,500 gallons
C. approximately 2,000 gallons
D. approximately 2,500 gallons
4. What did the Philadelphia greening program study reveal?
A. It decreased property values
B. It had no economic impact
C. It added approximately $4 million in property value
D. It cost more than it generated in revenue
5. Which city is referred to as a “City in a Garden”?
A. London
B. New York
C. Philadelphia
D. Singapore
Questions 6-9: True/False/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the passage?
Write:
- TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
- FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
- NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this
6. Central Park in New York was designed in the 1850s.
7. All urban green spaces in wealthy neighborhoods are larger than those in lower-income areas.
8. Hospital patients with views of nature recover faster than those without such views.
9. Green roofs are more expensive to install than traditional roofs.
Questions 10-13: Sentence Completion
Complete the sentences below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
10. Traditional urban surfaces are __, preventing rainwater from soaking through.
11. Urban green spaces can function as __ that connect fragmented natural habitats.
12. The practice of transforming abandoned industrial sites into green spaces is called __.
13. Future urban planning concepts include __, which use green infrastructure for water management.
PASSAGE 2 – The Socioeconomic Dimensions of Urban Green Infrastructure
Độ khó: Medium (Band 6.0-7.5)
Thời gian đề xuất: 18-20 phút
The proliferation of green infrastructure in urban environments represents a paradigm shift in contemporary city planning, reflecting a growing awareness of the multifaceted benefits these spaces provide beyond mere aesthetics. While the ecological advantages of urban vegetation are well-documented, the socioeconomic implications of green space distribution and accessibility have emerged as critical considerations for equitable urban development. Understanding these dimensions is essential for creating cities that serve all residents, regardless of their socioeconomic status.
A. The concept of “environmental justice” has gained prominence in discussions about urban green space allocation. Research consistently demonstrates that affluent neighborhoods typically enjoy greater access to high-quality parks, tree-lined streets, and other green amenities compared to lower-income communities. This disparity is not coincidental but rather reflects historical patterns of urban development and investment priorities. In many cities, marginalized communities have been systematically excluded from access to environmental amenities through discriminatory planning practices, a phenomenon sometimes termed “green gentrification” when new green spaces lead to increased property values and the displacement of long-term residents.
B. The economic ramifications of this unequal distribution are substantial. Studies have shown that proximity to green spaces can increase residential property values by 5 to 20 percent, depending on the size and quality of the amenity. While this appreciation benefits existing property owners, it can simultaneously make housing unaffordable for lower-income families. This creates a paradoxical situation where communities that could benefit most from green spaces—those with higher rates of respiratory illnesses, heat-related health problems, and limited recreational opportunities—are least likely to have adequate access to them.
C. Furthermore, the health benefits associated with urban green spaces show pronounced disparities across different demographic groups. Epidemiological research indicates that children growing up in neighborhoods with limited green space exposure have higher rates of asthma and other respiratory conditions. Adults in such areas experience elevated levels of cardiovascular disease and mental health disorders. The cumulative effect of these health disparities contributes to reduced life expectancy in underserved communities, with some studies suggesting differences of up to ten years between neighborhoods with abundant versus scarce green spaces.
D. The relationship between urban green spaces and social cohesion presents another significant dimension. Parks and community gardens serve as vital spaces for social interaction, fostering connections among residents who might otherwise remain isolated. These interactions can strengthen community bonds, increase civic engagement, and reduce crime rates. Research conducted in Chicago revealed that residential buildings with nearby trees and green spaces reported 52 percent fewer crimes than comparable buildings without such amenities. The proposed mechanism involves increased informal surveillance and greater territorial attachment among residents who regularly use and value these spaces.
Vườn cộng đồng trong thành phố hiện đại với người dân các lứa tuổi cùng tham gia
E. However, the implementation of green infrastructure projects requires careful consideration of community input and needs. Top-down approaches that fail to involve residents in planning processes often result in spaces that do not adequately serve the community or, worse, contribute to gentrification pressures. Participatory planning models, where community members actively shape green space design and programming, have proven more successful in creating sustainable, well-utilized amenities. In Detroit, for instance, community-led initiatives transformed vacant lots into productive urban farms and gathering spaces, generating both food security and social benefits without triggering significant displacement.
F. The maintenance and management of urban green spaces also raise important questions about resource allocation and municipal priorities. Wealthier neighborhoods often have greater capacity to supplement public funding through neighborhood associations and private donations, enabling more frequent maintenance and enhanced amenities. This creates a self-reinforcing cycle where better-maintained spaces attract more users and investment, while neglected spaces in lower-income areas deteriorate further. Breaking this cycle requires deliberate policy interventions and equitable funding formulas that allocate resources based on need rather than purely on existing conditions.
G. Employment opportunities generated by urban green infrastructure represent an underappreciated aspect of their socioeconomic impact. The creation and maintenance of parks, gardens, and green roofs generate jobs in horticulture, landscape design, environmental education, and facilities management. Workforce development programs linked to green infrastructure projects can provide valuable training and employment pathways for residents of underserved communities. Philadelphia’s PowerCorpsPHL program exemplifies this approach, offering young adults from disadvantaged backgrounds paid opportunities to develop skills in green infrastructure maintenance while improving their neighborhoods.
H. The financial mechanisms supporting urban green space development have evolved considerably. Traditional models relying solely on municipal budgets have proven insufficient to meet growing demands. Innovative financing strategies now include public-private partnerships, green bonds, stormwater fees that fund green infrastructure, and payment for ecosystem services programs that compensate property owners for maintaining vegetation. These mechanisms can mobilize additional resources, though they also raise questions about accountability, long-term sustainability, and the potential for privatization of public goods.
International examples demonstrate diverse approaches to addressing green space equity. Bogotá, Colombia, transformed its urban landscape through Ciclovía, a program that closes major streets to vehicles every Sunday, creating temporary public spaces for recreation accessible to all residents regardless of economic status. Seoul, South Korea, removed an elevated highway to restore the Cheonggyecheon stream, creating a linear park that serves as both ecological infrastructure and democratic public space. These examples illustrate how political will and creative thinking can overcome constraints to deliver inclusive green infrastructure.
The challenge moving forward involves balancing multiple objectives: environmental sustainability, public health improvement, economic development, and social equity. Achieving this balance requires sophisticated planning tools, including geographic information systems to identify underserved areas, health impact assessments to evaluate proposed projects, and community engagement protocols that ensure meaningful participation. Additionally, cross-sector collaboration among urban planners, public health officials, community organizers, and residents is essential for developing holistic solutions that address the complex interplay of factors influencing urban green space outcomes.
Questions 14-26
Questions 14-19: Matching Headings
The passage has eight paragraphs, A-H.
Choose the correct heading for paragraphs A-F from the list of headings below.
List of Headings:
i. The impact of green spaces on crime reduction
ii. Employment benefits of green infrastructure
iii. Unequal access to urban green spaces
iv. Innovative funding approaches for parks
v. The importance of community participation in planning
vi. Health disparities linked to green space availability
vii. Maintenance challenges in different neighborhoods
viii. Economic effects of proximity to parks
ix. International case studies of green space development
x. Historical development of urban parks
14. Paragraph A
15. Paragraph B
16. Paragraph C
17. Paragraph D
18. Paragraph E
19. Paragraph F
Questions 20-23: Yes/No/Not Given
Do the following statements agree with the claims of the writer in the passage?
Write:
- YES if the statement agrees with the claims of the writer
- NO if the statement contradicts the claims of the writer
- NOT GIVEN if it is impossible to say what the writer thinks about this
20. Green gentrification always benefits existing residents of lower-income neighborhoods.
21. Properties near green spaces can increase in value by up to 20 percent.
22. All cities worldwide have adopted participatory planning models for green spaces.
23. Chicago research showed that buildings with nearby green spaces had fewer reported crimes.
Questions 24-26: Summary Completion
Complete the summary below.
Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for each answer.
Urban green infrastructure generates various employment opportunities in fields such as horticulture and landscape design. 24. __ programs connected to green projects can provide training for residents from disadvantaged areas. Philadelphia’s PowerCorpsPHL program offers young adults from challenging backgrounds paid work developing skills in maintaining green infrastructure. Traditional funding through 25. __ alone has been inadequate, leading to innovative approaches like public-private partnerships and **26. __, which are financial instruments specifically for environmental projects.
PASSAGE 3 – Ecological Functions and Urban Resilience Through Strategic Green Space Planning
Độ khó: Hard (Band 7.0-9.0)
Thời gian đề xuất: 23-25 phút
The intricate relationship between urban green infrastructure and ecological resilience has become increasingly central to contemporary discourse on sustainable urban development. As cities worldwide confront the compounding challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity, the strategic incorporation of green spaces has evolved from an aesthetic consideration into a fundamental prerequisite for urban viability. This transition reflects a sophisticated understanding of the ecosystem services that vegetated areas provide and their role in creating adaptive capacity within urban systems facing unprecedented environmental pressures.
The concept of ecosystem services—the benefits that humans derive from ecological processes—provides a useful framework for understanding the multifarious contributions of urban green spaces. These services are typically categorized into provisioning (such as food production), regulating (including climate moderation and water purification), supporting (like nutrient cycling and habitat provision), and cultural (encompassing recreation and aesthetic values). Urban green infrastructure delivers services across all these categories, though the relative importance and manifestation of each service varies depending on the type, scale, and configuration of green space, as well as the specific urban context in which it is situated.
Microclimate regulation represents one of the most tangible regulating services provided by urban vegetation, with implications extending beyond mere comfort to affect energy consumption, public health, and economic productivity. The urban heat island effect—whereby cities experience temperatures significantly higher than surrounding rural areas due to heat-absorbing surfaces and reduced evapotranspiration—can be substantially mitigated through strategic green space distribution. Research utilizing thermal imaging and climate modeling has demonstrated that optimal placement of trees and vegetated areas can reduce ambient temperatures by 2-8 degrees Celsius, with the cooling effect extending beyond the green space itself to influence surrounding blocks. This temperature moderation translates into reduced energy demands for air conditioning, potentially decreasing electricity consumption by 20-30 percent in summer months, while also alleviating heat stress that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations including the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions.
The hydrological functions of urban green infrastructure constitute another critical domain of ecosystem services, particularly relevant as cities grapple with the dual threats of flooding and water scarcity exacerbated by climate change. Conventional urban development, characterized by impervious surfaces that prevent water infiltration, has fundamentally altered watershed dynamics, resulting in increased surface runoff, flash flooding, and diminished groundwater recharge. Green infrastructure interventions—including bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavements, and extensive tree canopy—can substantially modify these hydrological patterns. Quantitative assessments indicate that comprehensively planned green space networks can reduce stormwater runoff by 40-70 percent compared to conventional infrastructure, while simultaneously improving water quality through filtration of pollutants and sediments. The city of Portland, Oregon, has implemented an ambitious green infrastructure program that manages nearly 1 billion gallons of stormwater annually through vegetated systems, avoiding the construction of expensive grey infrastructure (traditional pipes and treatment facilities) estimated to cost over $1 billion.
Hệ thống thủy lực đô thị xanh bioswale xử lý nước mưa trong thành phố hiện đại
Biodiversity conservation within urban contexts has emerged as an increasingly salient objective of green space planning, challenging the historical perception of cities as ecological voids. Contemporary ecological research has revealed that urban areas can support considerable biodiversity, with some cities harboring species diversity comparable to or even exceeding that of surrounding non-urban landscapes, particularly when green spaces are designed with ecological functions as explicit priorities. The concept of “wildlife corridors“—continuous or stepped pathways of vegetation connecting habitat patches—has gained traction as a strategy for facilitating species movement, genetic exchange, and population viability within fragmented urban landscapes. However, realizing the biodiversity potential of urban green spaces requires deliberate design choices: prioritizing native plant species that support co-evolved relationships with local fauna, creating structural complexity through diverse vegetation layers, minimizing pesticide use, and maintaining heterogeneity in management practices to accommodate diverse ecological niches. Cities like Singapore and Melbourne have adopted comprehensive urban ecology strategies that integrate biodiversity objectives across planning scales, from individual building requirements to city-wide networks, demonstrating measurable increases in species richness and ecological connectivity.
The role of urban green spaces in carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation represents an area of ongoing research and sometimes contested claims. While vegetation undoubtedly sequesters carbon through photosynthesis, the net carbon balance of urban green spaces is influenced by numerous factors including plant growth rates, management practices (particularly emissions from maintenance equipment), and the carbon costs of establishment and irrigation. Life cycle assessments suggest that mature trees in urban settings can sequester 10-30 kilograms of carbon annually, with larger specimens and faster-growing species achieving higher rates. However, some researchers caution against overstating the climate mitigation potential of urban forestry, noting that even extensive tree planting campaigns would offset only a small fraction of urban carbon emissions. Nevertheless, the indirect climate benefits—through reduced energy consumption, modified urban albedo (reflectivity), and enhanced climate adaptation capacity—arguably constitute more significant contributions than direct carbon sequestration.
The concept of “green infrastructure networks” or “ecological networks” represents a paradigmatic advancement in urban green space planning, emphasizing connectivity, multifunctionality, and strategic distribution rather than isolated individual sites. This network approach draws on principles from landscape ecology, recognizing that the spatial configuration of green spaces—including their size, shape, distribution, and interconnections—fundamentally influences their ecological functioning and service delivery. Network modeling techniques enable planners to identify strategic locations for new green spaces that maximize connectivity, optimize ecosystem service provision, and address gaps in coverage. The European Green Infrastructure Strategy exemplifies this approach, promoting the development of interconnected green-blue networks (combining vegetated areas with water features) across urban, peri-urban, and rural landscapes to deliver synergistic benefits for biodiversity, climate adaptation, and human well-being.
However, translating these ecological concepts into implemented green infrastructure faces numerous institutional barriers and governance challenges. Urban planning typically operates within sectoral silos, with responsibilities for parks, water management, transportation, and housing often fragmented across different agencies with distinct mandates, budgets, and professional cultures. Effective green infrastructure planning requires cross-sectoral integration and coordination mechanisms that remain nascent in many municipalities. Additionally, the temporal dynamics of ecosystem service provision—with significant benefits often accruing only years or decades after establishment—create misalignments with political and budgetary cycles that prioritize shorter-term outcomes. The valuation of ecosystem services, while methodologically advancing, remains contentious and imperfect, potentially leading to underinvestment in green infrastructure relative to grey alternatives whose benefits are more easily quantified in conventional economic terms.
The intersection of social equity considerations with ecological planning objectives presents both opportunities and tensions. Strategies to enhance ecological connectivity may not align with patterns of human accessibility, and ecologically optimal locations for green space expansion may differ from areas of greatest social need. Furthermore, the emphasis on “natural” or “wild” aesthetic preferences in ecologically-oriented design may not resonate with all cultural groups, some of whom may prefer more manicured or programmed spaces. Reconciling these potentially divergent priorities requires inclusive planning processes that meaningfully engage diverse stakeholders and recognize multiple value dimensions—ecological, social, cultural, and economic—in decision-making frameworks.
Looking forward, the integration of emerging technologies and data sources promises to enhance the sophistication of green infrastructure planning and management. Remote sensing platforms, including satellite imagery and drone-based surveys, enable detailed monitoring of vegetation health, coverage, and change over time. Sensor networks can provide real-time data on microclimatic conditions, soil moisture, and biodiversity indicators, supporting adaptive management approaches. Machine learning algorithms applied to these data streams can optimize maintenance schedules, predict ecosystem service delivery, and identify areas of ecological stress requiring intervention. However, realizing this potential requires investments in technological infrastructure, analytical capacity, and importantly, governance frameworks that ensure data accessibility and application in service of public interest rather than merely enhancing efficiency of existing paradigms.
Questions 27-40
Questions 27-31: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct letter, A, B, C, or D.
27. According to the passage, ecosystem services are categorized into how many main types?
A. Two
B. Three
C. Four
D. Five
28. What percentage reduction in electricity consumption can temperature moderation from green spaces achieve in summer?
A. 10-15 percent
B. 15-25 percent
C. 20-30 percent
D. 30-40 percent
29. How much stormwater does Portland’s green infrastructure program manage annually?
A. Nearly 500 million gallons
B. Nearly 1 billion gallons
C. Nearly 2 billion gallons
D. Nearly 5 billion gallons
30. How much carbon can mature urban trees sequester annually?
A. 5-15 kilograms
B. 10-30 kilograms
C. 30-50 kilograms
D. 50-70 kilograms
31. What does the passage suggest about the climate mitigation potential of urban forestry?
A. It can completely offset urban carbon emissions
B. It should not be pursued due to maintenance costs
C. Its indirect benefits may be more significant than direct carbon sequestration
D. It has no measurable impact on climate change
Questions 32-36: Matching Features
Match each statement (32-36) with the correct city (A-E).
You may use any letter more than once.
A. Portland
B. Singapore
C. Melbourne
D. Bogotá
E. Seoul
32. Has implemented comprehensive urban ecology strategies showing increases in species richness
33. Manages stormwater through green infrastructure avoiding expensive traditional infrastructure
34. Removed a highway to restore a stream and create a linear park
35. Has adopted biodiversity objectives across multiple planning scales
36. Created temporary public recreational spaces by closing streets to vehicles
Questions 37-40: Short-answer Questions
Answer the questions below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS from the passage for each answer.
37. What term describes continuous or stepped pathways of vegetation connecting habitat patches?
38. What does “albedo” refer to in the context of urban climate?
39. What type of networks combine vegetated areas with water features according to European strategy?
40. What emerging technology enables detailed monitoring of vegetation health and coverage over time?
3. Answer Keys – Đáp Án
PASSAGE 1: Questions 1-13
- B
- B
- C
- C
- D
- TRUE
- NOT GIVEN
- TRUE
- NOT GIVEN
- impermeable
- ecological corridors
- adaptive reuse
- sponge cities
PASSAGE 2: Questions 14-26
- iii
- viii
- vi
- i
- v
- vii
- NO
- YES
- NOT GIVEN
- YES
- Workforce development
- municipal budgets
- green bonds
PASSAGE 3: Questions 27-40
- C
- C
- B
- B
- C
- B
- A
- E
- B
- D
- wildlife corridors
- reflectivity
- green-blue networks
- Remote sensing
4. Giải Thích Đáp Án Chi Tiết
Passage 1 – Giải Thích
Câu 1: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: primary reason, creating parks, 19th-century European cities
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 1-3
- Giải thích: Bài đọc nói rõ “City planners began to recognize the need for parks and gardens as places where residents could escape the harsh conditions of industrial life.” Điều này được paraphrase thành “provide relief from industrial conditions” trong đáp án B. Các đáp án khác (property values, biodiversity, stormwater) là những lợi ích được nhận ra sau này, không phải lý do chính ban đầu.
Câu 2: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: vegetation, reduce temperatures
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 5-7
- Giải thích: Thông tin rõ ràng: “creating a cooling effect that can reduce urban temperatures by up to 5 degrees Celsius during summer months.”
Câu 3: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: mature tree, intercept, rainwater annually
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng cuối
- Giải thích: Câu cuối đoạn 4 nêu rõ: “A single mature tree can intercept approximately 2,000 gallons of rainwater annually.”
Câu 6: TRUE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: Central Park, New York, designed, 1850s
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 3-4
- Giải thích: Bài đọc nêu: “New York’s Central Park, designed in the 1850s” – khớp chính xác với statement.
Câu 7: NOT GIVEN
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: wealthy neighborhoods, larger than, lower-income areas
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 8
- Giải thích: Bài đọc chỉ nói “lower-income areas often have fewer and smaller parks compared to wealthier districts” nhưng không nói “all” green spaces trong khu giàu đều lớn hơn, do đó không đủ thông tin để xác nhận.
Câu 8: TRUE
- Dạng câu hỏi: True/False/Not Given
- Từ khóa: Hospital patients, views of nature, recover faster
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 4-5
- Giải thích: “Hospital patients with views of trees and gardens have been found to recover more quickly than those without such views” – trùng khớp hoàn toàn.
Câu 10: impermeable
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: Traditional urban surfaces, preventing rainwater
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng 2-3
- Giải thích: “Traditional urban surfaces like concrete and asphalt are impermeable, meaning rainwater cannot soak through them.”
Câu 11: ecological corridors
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: connect fragmented natural habitats
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 2-3
- Giải thích: “recognizing that urban areas can serve as ecological corridors that connect fragmented natural habitats.”
Câu 12: adaptive reuse
- Dạng câu hỏi: Sentence Completion
- Từ khóa: transforming abandoned industrial sites
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 9, dòng 2-3
- Giải thích: “Some cities have transformed abandoned industrial sites and railway corridors into green spaces, a practice known as adaptive reuse.”
Passage 2 – Giải Thích
Câu 14: iii (Paragraph A)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Giải thích: Đoạn A tập trung vào “environmental justice” và “disparity” trong phân bổ không gian xanh, nói về việc khu giàu có nhiều green space hơn khu nghèo – phù hợp với heading “Unequal access to urban green spaces.”
Câu 15: viii (Paragraph B)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Giải thích: Đoạn B thảo luận về “economic ramifications” và việc proximity to green spaces tăng property values 5-20%, tạo ra tình huống paradoxical – đúng với heading “Economic effects of proximity to parks.”
Câu 16: vi (Paragraph C)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Giải thích: Đoạn C nói về “health benefits” và “pronounced disparities” liên quan đến green space exposure, với đề cập đến asthma, cardiovascular disease, và life expectancy differences – khớp với “Health disparities linked to green space availability.”
Câu 17: i (Paragraph D)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Headings
- Giải thích: Đoạn D tập trung vào “social cohesion” và nghiên cứu Chicago cho thấy buildings với nearby trees có 52% fewer crimes – phù hợp với heading “The impact of green spaces on crime reduction.”
Câu 20: NO
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: Green gentrification, always benefits, existing residents
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn A, dòng cuối
- Giải thích: Bài viết nói green gentrification dẫn đến “displacement of long-term residents” – mâu thuẫn với việc “always benefits,” do đó đáp án là NO.
Câu 21: YES
- Dạng câu hỏi: Yes/No/Not Given
- Từ khóa: Properties, increase in value, up to 20 percent
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn B, dòng 2
- Giải thích: “proximity to green spaces can increase residential property values by 5 to 20 percent” – khớp chính xác với claim.
Câu 24: Workforce development
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Từ khóa: programs, training, disadvantaged areas
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn G, dòng 3-4
- Giải thích: “Workforce development programs linked to green infrastructure projects can provide valuable training…”
Câu 25: municipal budgets
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Từ khóa: Traditional funding, inadequate
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn H, dòng 1-2
- Giải thích: “Traditional models relying solely on municipal budgets have proven insufficient…”
Câu 26: green bonds
- Dạng câu hỏi: Summary Completion
- Từ khóa: financial instruments, environmental projects
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn H, dòng 2-3
- Giải thích: “Innovative financing strategies now include public-private partnerships, green bonds…” – green bonds là công cụ tài chính cho các dự án môi trường.
Passage 3 – Giải Thích
Câu 27: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: ecosystem services, categorized, types
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 2, dòng 2-4
- Giải thích: “These services are typically categorized into provisioning… regulating… supporting… and cultural” – tổng cộng 4 loại.
Câu 28: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: electricity consumption, temperature moderation, summer
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 3, dòng 6-7
- Giải thích: “potentially decreasing electricity consumption by 20-30 percent in summer months.”
Câu 29: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: Portland, stormwater, manages annually
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, dòng cuối
- Giải thích: “manages nearly 1 billion gallons of stormwater annually through vegetated systems.”
Câu 30: B
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: mature trees, sequester, annually
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 4-5
- Giải thích: “mature trees in urban settings can sequester 10-30 kilograms of carbon annually.”
Câu 31: C
- Dạng câu hỏi: Multiple Choice
- Từ khóa: climate mitigation potential, urban forestry
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng cuối
- Giải thích: “the indirect climate benefits… arguably constitute more significant contributions than direct carbon sequestration” – nghĩa là lợi ích gián tiếp quan trọng hơn.
Câu 32: B (Singapore)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, câu cuối
- Giải thích: “Cities like Singapore and Melbourne have adopted comprehensive urban ecology strategies… demonstrating measurable increases in species richness.”
Câu 33: A (Portland)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 4, câu cuối
- Giải thích: “The city of Portland, Oregon… manages nearly 1 billion gallons of stormwater annually through vegetated systems, avoiding the construction of expensive grey infrastructure.”
Câu 34: E (Seoul)
- Dạng câu hỏi: Matching Features
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 9 của Passage 2
- Giải thích: “Seoul, South Korea, removed an elevated highway to restore the Cheonggyecheon stream, creating a linear park.”
Câu 37: wildlife corridors
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
- Từ khóa: continuous or stepped pathways, connecting habitat patches
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 5, dòng 5-6
- Giải thích: “The concept of ‘wildlife corridors’—continuous or stepped pathways of vegetation connecting habitat patches.”
Câu 38: reflectivity
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
- Từ khóa: albedo, urban climate
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 6, dòng 8
- Giải thích: “modified urban albedo (reflectivity)” – từ trong ngoặc chính là định nghĩa của albedo.
Câu 39: green-blue networks
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
- Từ khóa: combine vegetated areas, water features, European strategy
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 7, câu cuối
- Giải thích: “promoting the development of interconnected green-blue networks (combining vegetated areas with water features).”
Câu 40: Remote sensing
- Dạng câu hỏi: Short-answer Questions
- Từ khóa: monitoring, vegetation health, coverage, over time
- Vị trí trong bài: Đoạn 10, dòng 2-3
- Giải thích: “Remote sensing platforms, including satellite imagery and drone-based surveys, enable detailed monitoring of vegetation health, coverage, and change over time.”
5. Từ Vựng Quan Trọng Theo Passage
Passage 1 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| integral component | noun phrase | /ˈɪntɪɡrəl kəmˈpəʊnənt/ | thành phần không thể thiếu | Urban green spaces have become an integral component of modern city planning | integral part, integral element |
| vegetation | n | /ˌvedʒɪˈteɪʃn/ | th植vật, cây cối | incorporating vegetation and open areas within cities | natural vegetation, urban vegetation |
| rapid industrialization | noun phrase | /ˈræpɪd ɪnˌdʌstriəlaɪˈzeɪʃn/ | công nghiệp hóa nhanh chóng | cities experienced rapid industrialization | rapid development, rapid growth |
| overcrowded | adj | /ˌəʊvəˈkraʊdɪd/ | quá đông đúc | overcrowded and polluted urban environments | overcrowded cities, overcrowded areas |
| recreational opportunities | noun phrase | /ˌrekriˈeɪʃənl ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪtiz/ | cơ hội giải trí | provide recreational opportunities | recreational activities, recreational facilities |
| moderate temperatures | verb phrase | /ˈmɒdəreɪt ˈtemprɪtʃəz/ | điều hòa nhiệt độ | helps moderate temperatures | moderate climate, moderate conditions |
| transpiration | n | /ˌtrænspɪˈreɪʃn/ | sự thoát hơi nước | through a process called transpiration | plant transpiration, leaf transpiration |
| stormwater management | noun phrase | /ˈstɔːmwɔːtə ˈmænɪdʒmənt/ | quản lý nước mưa | stormwater management gained recognition | water management, flood management |
| impermeable | adj | /ɪmˈpɜːmiəbl/ | không thấm nước | concrete and asphalt are impermeable | impermeable surfaces, impermeable layer |
| permeable soil | noun phrase | /ˈpɜːmiəbl sɔɪl/ | đất thấm nước | Green spaces with their permeable soil | permeable surfaces, permeable materials |
| biodiversity preservation | noun phrase | /ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsɪti ˌprezəˈveɪʃn/ | bảo tồn đa dạng sinh học | Biodiversity preservation represents an emerging priority | biodiversity conservation, biodiversity protection |
| adaptive reuse | noun phrase | /əˈdæptɪv riːˈjuːs/ | tái sử dụng thích ứng | a practice known as adaptive reuse | adaptive management, adaptive design |
Passage 2 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| proliferation | n | /prəˌlɪfəˈreɪʃn/ | sự gia tăng nhanh chóng | The proliferation of green infrastructure | rapid proliferation, nuclear proliferation |
| paradigm shift | noun phrase | /ˈpærədaɪm ʃɪft/ | sự thay đổi mô hình tư duy | represents a paradigm shift | fundamental shift, major shift |
| multifaceted benefits | noun phrase | /ˌmʌltiˈfæsɪtɪd ˈbenɪfɪts/ | lợi ích đa chiều | multifaceted benefits these spaces provide | multifaceted approach, multifaceted problem |
| socioeconomic status | noun phrase | /ˌsəʊsiəʊˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈsteɪtəs/ | địa vị kinh tế xã hội | regardless of their socioeconomic status | low socioeconomic status, high socioeconomic status |
| environmental justice | noun phrase | /ɪnˌvaɪrənˈmentl ˈdʒʌstɪs/ | công bằng môi trường | The concept of environmental justice | social justice, climate justice |
| affluent neighborhoods | noun phrase | /ˈæfluənt ˈneɪbəhʊdz/ | khu phố giàu có | affluent neighborhoods typically enjoy greater access | wealthy neighborhoods, prosperous areas |
| green gentrification | noun phrase | /ɡriːn ˌdʒentrɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ | hiện tượng đô thị hóa xanh | a phenomenon termed green gentrification | urban gentrification, neighborhood gentrification |
| displacement | n | /dɪsˈpleɪsmənt/ | sự di dời, dịch chuyển | the displacement of long-term residents | forced displacement, population displacement |
| epidemiological research | noun phrase | /ˌepɪˌdiːmiəˈlɒdʒɪkl rɪˈsɜːtʃ/ | nghiên cứu dịch tễ học | Epidemiological research indicates | medical research, scientific research |
| cardiovascular disease | noun phrase | /ˌkɑːdiəʊˈvæskjʊlə dɪˈziːz/ | bệnh tim mạch | elevated levels of cardiovascular disease | heart disease, chronic disease |
| social cohesion | noun phrase | /ˈsəʊʃl kəʊˈhiːʒn/ | sự gắn kết xã hội | relationship between green spaces and social cohesion | community cohesion, group cohesion |
| civic engagement | noun phrase | /ˈsɪvɪk ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/ | sự tham gia công dân | increase civic engagement | political engagement, community engagement |
| participatory planning | noun phrase | /pɑːˈtɪsɪpətri ˈplænɪŋ/ | quy hoạch có sự tham gia | Participatory planning models | participatory approach, participatory process |
| self-reinforcing cycle | noun phrase | /self ˌriːɪnˈfɔːsɪŋ ˈsaɪkl/ | chu trình tự củng cố | creates a self-reinforcing cycle | vicious cycle, virtuous cycle |
| workforce development | noun phrase | /ˈwɜːkfɔːs dɪˈveləpmənt/ | phát triển nguồn nhân lực | Workforce development programs | professional development, skills development |
Passage 3 – Essential Vocabulary
| Từ vựng | Loại từ | Phiên âm | Nghĩa tiếng Việt | Ví dụ từ bài | Collocation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| intricate relationship | noun phrase | /ˈɪntrɪkət rɪˈleɪʃnʃɪp/ | mối quan hệ phức tạp | The intricate relationship between urban green infrastructure | complex relationship, close relationship |
| ecological resilience | noun phrase | /ˌiːkəˈlɒdʒɪkl rɪˈzɪliəns/ | khả năng phục hồi sinh thái | ecological resilience has become central | environmental resilience, system resilience |
| compounding challenges | noun phrase | /ˈkɒmpaʊndɪŋ ˈtʃælɪndʒɪz/ | những thách thức chồng chất | confront the compounding challenges | mounting challenges, growing challenges |
| resource scarcity | noun phrase | /rɪˈsɔːs ˈskeəsɪti/ | sự khan hiếm tài nguyên | climate change and resource scarcity | water scarcity, food scarcity |
| ecosystem services | noun phrase | /ˈiːkəʊsɪstəm ˈsɜːvɪsɪz/ | dịch vụ hệ sinh thái | the ecosystem services that vegetated areas provide | environmental services, ecological services |
| adaptive capacity | noun phrase | /əˈdæptɪv kəˈpæsɪti/ | khả năng thích ứng | creating adaptive capacity within urban systems | resilience capacity, coping capacity |
| microclimate regulation | noun phrase | /ˈmaɪkrəʊˌklaɪmət ˌreɡjʊˈleɪʃn/ | điều hòa vi khí hậu | Microclimate regulation represents one service | temperature regulation, climate control |
| urban heat island effect | noun phrase | /ˈɜːbən hiːt ˈaɪlənd ɪˈfekt/ | hiệu ứng đảo nhiệt đô thị | The urban heat island effect can be mitigated | heat island phenomenon, urban warming |
| thermal imaging | noun phrase | /ˈθɜːml ˈɪmɪdʒɪŋ/ | hình ảnh nhiệt | Research utilizing thermal imaging | infrared imaging, heat mapping |
| ambient temperatures | noun phrase | /ˈæmbiənt ˈtemprɪtʃəz/ | nhiệt độ môi trường xung quanh | reduce ambient temperatures by 2-8 degrees | room temperature, air temperature |
| hydrological functions | noun phrase | /ˌhaɪdrəˈlɒdʒɪkl ˈfʌŋkʃnz/ | chức năng thủy văn | The hydrological functions of urban green infrastructure | ecological functions, biological functions |
| impervious surfaces | noun phrase | /ɪmˈpɜːviəs ˈsɜːfɪsɪz/ | bề mặt không thấm nước | characterized by impervious surfaces | sealed surfaces, waterproof surfaces |
| groundwater recharge | noun phrase | /ˈɡraʊndwɔːtə riːˈtʃɑːdʒ/ | bổ cập nước ngầm | diminished groundwater recharge | aquifer recharge, water replenishment |
| bioswales | n | /ˈbaɪəʊsweɪlz/ | rãnh sinh học (xử lý nước) | including bioswales and rain gardens | drainage systems, filtration systems |
| wildlife corridors | noun phrase | /ˈwaɪldlaɪf ˈkɒrɪdɔːz/ | hành lang sinh thái | The concept of wildlife corridors | ecological corridors, migration routes |
| carbon sequestration | noun phrase | /ˈkɑːbən ˌsiːkwesˈtreɪʃn/ | hấp thụ carbon | role in carbon sequestration | carbon capture, carbon storage |
| life cycle assessments | noun phrase | /laɪf ˈsaɪkl əˈsesməns/ | đánh giá vòng đời | Life cycle assessments suggest | environmental assessments, impact assessments |
| landscape ecology | noun phrase | /ˈlændskeɪp iˈkɒlədʒi/ | sinh thái cảnh quan | draws on principles from landscape ecology | urban ecology, ecosystem ecology |
Kết Bài
Chủ đề về vai trò của không gian xanh trong quy hoạch đô thị không chỉ phổ biến trong IELTS Reading mà còn phản ánh những vấn đề thực tiễn quan trọng của xã hội hiện đại. Qua bộ đề thi mẫu này, bạn đã được trải nghiệm đầy đủ ba mức độ khó từ Easy đến Hard, với tổng cộng 40 câu hỏi đa dạng dạng giống như trong kỳ thi thật.
Passage 1 giới thiệu những khái niệm cơ bản về lịch sử và chức năng của không gian xanh đô thị với từ vựng dễ tiếp cận. Passage 2 đào sâu vào các khía cạnh kinh tế xã hội với ngôn ngữ học thuật phức tạp hơn. Passage 3 thách thức người đọc với nội dung chuyên sâu về sinh thái học và khả năng phục hồi đô thị, yêu cầu kỹ năng đọc hiểu và phân tích cao.
Đáp án chi tiết kèm giải thích đã chỉ ra cách paraphrase, vị trí thông tin trong bài và kỹ thuật làm từng dạng câu hỏi. Bảng từ vựng với hơn 40 từ quan trọng cung cấp nền tảng vững chắc cho việc xây dựng vốn từ học thuật của bạn. Những collocation và cụm từ này không chỉ hữu ích cho Reading mà còn có thể áp dụng trong Writing và Speaking.
Hãy thực hành bộ đề này trong điều kiện thi thật với giới hạn thời gian 60 phút, sau đó phân tích kỹ những câu sai để hiểu rõ điểm yếu cần cải thiện. Với sự luyện tập kiên trì và phương pháp đúng đắn, bạn hoàn toàn có thể đạt được band điểm mục tiêu trong kỳ thi IELTS sắp tới. Chúc bạn học tập hiệu quả và thành công!
